Called up from minor league camp to help out in the bullpen on Tuesday, Luzardo was thrust into a save situation in the ninth inning looking to preserve a 5-3 lead over the Rangers.

Melvin said he would have expected that type of scenario to produce high stress levels for any young pitcher, but the manager saw nothing but calmness from Luzardo as he effortlessly fired off 96 mph fastballs for strikes.

Luzardo allowed one hit and struck out a batter to earn the save.

“Didn’t look nerves were an issue,” Melvin said. “We brought him over here trying to give him an inning. Didn’t know it was gonna be the ninth, but that was impressive.”

Luzardo, 20, is a left-handed pitcher who had an astonishing 48-to-5 K/BB ratio in 43 1/3 innings pitched. He joined fellow lefty A.J. Puk as young pitchers who have made a big impression early in spring for the A’s.

“It’s nice to be able to reward a kid like that and get him in a game like this,” Melvin said. “He’s pretty efficient. They told us he’s a strike thrower. With that kind of stuff, it’s exciting.”

Martin Gallegos is a multimedia beat reporter covering the Oakland Athletics. A native of San Jose, he frequently attended ballgames at both AT&T Park and the Oakland Coliseum as a kid. Prior to covering the A's, he covered the Earthquakes, San Jose State football, and high school sports around the Bay Area. A self-proclaimed "Burrito Connoisseur," Martin is constantly on the search for the best burrito in each Major League city.